Zion National Park Interpretation and Community Engagement Assistant - Conservation Legacy

Title:Zion National Park Interpretation and Community Engagement Assistant

Stipend: $700.00/week living stipend

Term: 47-week service term. Anticipated Start June 2024

Reports to: Youth Program Lead Park Ranger at Zion National Park

Location: 1 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, Utah, 84767

Status: Full Time, 1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award $6,895.00 after successful completion of term. Health Benefit eligible. (Housing May be Available On-Site).

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ Mission

Our vision is to lead our Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being by engaging underrepresented Indigenous youth and young adults in conservation service programs that reconnect participants to the land, their cultural heritage, and their traditions. We work to remove barriers to participation, education, and employment by partnering with local community organizations, agencies, and institutes of higher learning to create paid service and career training opportunities, personal and professional development, and pathways to postsecondary education and employment. *Ancestral Lands serves local tribal communities in the regions we operate. Preference will be given to Native American Applicants.

National Park Service Mission:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Zion National Park preserves the dramatic geology including Zion Canyon and a labyrinth of deep and brilliantly colored Navajo Sandstone canyons formed by extraordinary processes of erosion at the margin of the Colorado Plateau. ZION also safeguards the park's wilderness character and its wild and scenic river values. Additionally, it protects evidence of human history; and provides for scientific research and the enjoyment and enlightenment of the public.

Within the park, the division of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services focuses on conveying the importance of the park’s natural, cultural, and historic resources to the wide diversity of park visitors, fostering both intellectual and emotional connections to the landscape.We endeavor to reach park visitors through a variety of formal programs, informal contacts throughout the park, publications, exhibits, and digital media.

Zion National Park Interpretation and Community Engagement Assistant Individual Placement (IP) Overview:

The intern selected for this position will work with Zion National Park and Zion Forever Project staff to help support the collaboration between the National Park Service, Zion Forever Project, and tribal partners. The intern will serve as a point of contact with the local tribes as the collaborate work continues to develop the interpretive and education plans for the Zion Discovery Center. Additionally, this position will assist with directly addressing the current gap in knowledge and encourage continued connections with the National Park Service, Zion Forever Project, and tribal partners. There are 36+ tribes who consider this area their ancestral homelands or lands to which they have a connection. This project will help the mission of Zion National Park by providing a space for Native youth to engage with community partners and the visiting public.

This project supports Zion National Park Interpretation and Education staff, who provide interpretation and education programming, and visitor services. In addition, this project supports Cultural Resources Management staff, who provide support and collaboration with local tribes.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

The NPS Zion Interpretation and Community Engagement Assistant will work to complete tasks and projects outlined below.

1) Serve as a point of contact with the local tribes to assist with the development of the interpretive and education plans for the Zion Discovery Center.

·Work with NPS staff to assist with facilitating conversations with stakeholders and partners surrounding the interpretive planning and programming of the Zion Discovery Center as reflected in the Long-Range Interpretive Plan process.

·Collaborate with Zion National Park, Zion Forever Project, and tribal partners to ensure that the story told through displays, programming, and other interpretation at the Zion Discovery Center meets the needs of tribal partners.

·Help facilitate conversations and implementation of programs and demonstrations about Paiute culture.

2)Assist with Youth Programming and Outreach.

·Work with Zion National Park and Zion Forever Project staff to support Tribal Gatherings efforts and other events.

·Collaborate with Zion National Park and Zion Forever staff, including tribal partners to support existing and future Tribal Youth Camps.

·Collaborate with Zion National Park staff to assist with outreach programming.

3) Support interpretive and education programming in Zion National Park.

·Work with supervisor and other leads to develop interpretive programs. The supervisor will assist in finding appropriate techniques, images, and props for an effective program.

·Research program content such as the natural and human history of Zion National Park and write up structured program outlines for each program. Outlines will include program themes, goals, and essential questions.

·Identify tangible materials and resources needed to engage audiences during activities and programs.

·Support curriculum-based programming for K-12 students. These programs may include Distance Learning programs (synchronous and asynchronous programming), lesson plans, classroom and field trip activities, and self-guided materials.

General Qualifications:

Zion National Park is looking for enthusiastic, reliable, and responsible candidates with great public speaking skills and a positive attitude. An educational background in history, archeology, geology, biology, ecology, cultural studies, education, or related subjects is recommended. Undergraduate/Graduate degree preferred.

·The successful applicant must be reliable, punctual, and self-motivated.

·Strong verbal and communication skills.

·Self-starter, creative, strategic, and resourceful.

·Must be comfortable and proficient speaking to large groups of people, including children.

·Must be able to stand and walk for extensive periods, and in some cases, over rough surfaces or inclines carrying backpacks, tools, etc.

·Must be able to work full days outside in high or low temperatures, or adverse weather conditions.

Must have a valid driver’s license and be comfortable driving steep and windy roads

Some educational or practical background in history, archeology, geology, biology, ecology, cultural studies, education or related subjects. Applicants will be considered if they are currently pursuing a degree or possess a combination of work (lived experience) and education (equivalent of bachelor's degree) in related subject-matter.

Requirements:

·21-30 years of age or 35 if Veteran of armed forces. (Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Requirements)

·U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Card, INS form I-551

·A passport indicating that the INS has been approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence A departure record (INS 194) indication that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence.

·Valid driver’s license

·Participate in occasional offsite in person/virtual meetings, trainings, and presentations.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest along with your online application.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ancestral Lands Individual Placements Program Coordinator, Shonto Greyeyes at shonto@conservationlegacy.org